Exhaust gas joule heater

Abstract

An exhaust gas heater comprising an electrically conductive metallic track hosted on an electrically insulating substrate through which an exhaust gas can flow.

1 . An exhaust gas heater comprising an electrically conductive metallic track hosted on an electrically insulating substrate through which an exhaust gas can flow. 
     
     
         2 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a tubular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of channels extending through the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a honeycomb monolith. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a filter. 
     
     
         7 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises metal on an inlet end surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises metal on an outlet end surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises an electrically conductive metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises silver, gold, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iron, chromium, titanium or an alloy of one or more thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises silver. 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises silver and nichrome. 
     
     
         13 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises silver and stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic track comprises metal within a trench in an end surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 14 , wherein the metal is coated into the trench. 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 8 , wherein the heater includes connectors linking the metal to an electrical power supply. 
     
     
         17 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a catalytic material. 
     
     
         18 . The exhaust gas heater of  claim 17 , wherein the catalytic material comprises a lean NO catalyst (LNC), a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC), a cold start catalyst (dCSC), a three-way catalyst (TWC), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for the catalytic treatment of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a. a casing having an exhaust gas inlet and a treated exhaust gas outlet; and   b. a heater disposed within the casing, through which the exhaust gas can flow;   wherein the heater comprises an electrically conductive metallic track hosted on an electrically insulating substrate.   
     
     
         20 . A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and an apparatus for the catalytic treatment of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, which apparatus comprises:
 a. a casing having an exhaust gas inlet and a treated exhaust gas outlet; and   b. a heater disposed within the casing, through which the exhaust gas can flow;   wherein the heater comprises an electrically conductive metallic track hosted on an electrically insulating substrate.